Media Centre Extender with Windows 7 plays everything!

The_Wierd · 24-10-2009, 6:23 PM

I hardly ever used the Extender with Winows MCE 2005 as the codec support was so limited. Just installed Windows 7 and now the 360 can stream almost all media avi's, mp4's etc. I don't know if this is a new feature, or if it is new for Win 7, but it very cool.

I never liked using the 360 for streaming especially since the NXE release, which I really don't like, been using the PS3, but the Win 7 Media Centre is really nice.

HD MKV files seem to play (Haali Media splitter on the PC), but with strangely low resolution, as if they are being re-encoded.

MKVs remuxed with MKV2VOB work, but there is no sound if the track is DTS. I am using analogue connections, my 360 is a launch-day box (still working!) so has no HDMI, so it might work with a digital connection.

Jase Winter · 24-10-2009, 9:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Wierd

I hardly ever used the Extender with Winows MCE 2005 as the codec support was so limited. Just installed Windows 7 and now the 360 can stream almost all media avi's, mp4's etc. I don't know if this is a new feature, or if it is new for Win 7, but it very cool.

I never liked using the 360 for streaming especially since the NXE release, which I really don't like, been using the PS3, but the Win 7 Media Centre is really nice.

HD MKV files seem to play (Haali Media splitter on the PC), but with strangely low resolution, as if they are being re-encoded.

MKVs remuxed with MKV2VOB work, but there is no sound if the track is DTS. I am using analogue connections, my 360 is a launch-day box (still working!) so has no HDMI, so it might work with a digital connection.

I have had mixed results myself, no problem at all with avi, mp4 and wmv but had issues with mkv. I used the divx technical preview in conjunction with haali media splitter, windows 7 media centre and 360 extender and while small files play fine, anything much bigger than 2GB and the xbox really struggles - sound but no picture, sound but very choppy/freezing picture that sorta stuff.

Maybe I should try MKV2VOB, how does that handle the bigger files?

I have a HDMI 360 and can confirm DTS in MKV files does not work.

The_Wierd · 25-10-2009, 12:53 PM

MKV2VOB just repacks the MKV file into a different container format, it does not normally re-encode. No problem with big files and seems to allow the Media Centre to play back in native format.

Shooter1 · 26-10-2009, 8:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jase Winter

I have a HDMI 360 and can confirm DTS in MKV files does not work.

When using mkv2vob just make sure that you tick the box that converts DTS to AC3. You will still get 5.1 surround sound.

Jase Winter · 26-10-2009, 12:18 PM

Thanks guys, gonna do some more experimenting later.

Jase Winter · 26-10-2009, 12:52 PM

one more question, does mkv2vob do it's stuff on the fly while streaming? the configuration tab is asking for a source file/directory and destination directory?

Jase Winter · 27-10-2009, 1:20 AM

Got it sussed in the end and having much more success although I tend to remux the files to mpg rather than vob.

EDIT: Well I thought I had it down but some of my blu-ray rips just give me a blank screen with DD5.1. Back to the drawing board.

*ScouserAndy* · 29-11-2009, 1:42 PM

Can anyone confirm that the xbox360 will play everything (including mkv files) via W7?

without tinkering about with the software.

DongaTon · 30-11-2009, 8:27 AM

I'm interested in more comment on this also-I'm running with Windows xp just now but considering changing to windows 7 for the primary purpose of improving my xbox as a media player with the extender.

I just want a similar interface to apple tv, might as well use what I've already got!

I could get an appletv or wdtv, but want persevere with what I already have-I'd really like to just have one box for it all.